Mechanical dancing toy.



C. E. HOLT.

MECHANICAL DANCING TOY. APPLICATION FILED MAY 22. 1918.

1,289,177. Patented Dec. 81, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. E. HOLT. MECHANICAL DANCING TOY. APPLICATION FILED MAY 22.1918.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

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CLARENCE E. HOLT, OF ADA, OKLAHOMA.

MECHANICAL DANCING TOY.

Application filed May 22, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

, Be it known that I, CLARENCE E. HOLT, citizen of the United States of America, residing at Ada, in the county of Pontotoc and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Dancing Toys, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a mechanical toy, and has for its principal object the production of a means for propelling the dolls or like figures upon a casing.

Another object of this invention is the production of amechanical dancing toy, which is provided with a movable plat-form above which the dolls are supported, whereby when the dolls are moved in a circle, the platform is also vibrated, so as to cause the dolls to have the appearance of dancing.

Another object of this invention is the production of a mechanical dancing toy, which is constructed so as to permit the motor which rotates the standard to which the dolls are connected, to also operate a bell or other musical instrument, as well as vibrate the platform, thus causing the dolls to dance at the time the music isproduced.

A still further object of this invention is the production of a mechanical dancing toy, wherein a casing is formed from a sheet of material, so as to inclose the motor, and at the same time form the vibrating platform upon which the dolls are mounted.

With these and other objects in view this invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a detail perspective view of the mechanical dancing toy, as the same appears when in operation.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the toy, illustrating how the dolls may be changed in their position upon the vibrating platform, a portion of this platform being broken away, to illustrate the manner in which the corners of the casing are soldered, or otherwise secured together.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the blank from which the casing is formed, a motor and bell being shown in top plan.

Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section through the device, taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Serial No. 235,962.

By referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, it will be seen that the casing of the mechanical dancing toy is formed from a blank, as shown in Fig. 3, and comprises a base 1, having the integral sides 2, extending therefrom. These sides 2 are bent upwardly to extend in parallel relation upon the sides of the base 1, while the end 3 also formed integral upon the base 1, is bent upwardly to bear upon the ends of the walls 2. The end 3 may be held in fixed engagement with the ends of the sides 2, by being soldered or otherwise secured together as shown at 4, in Fig. 2. An end 5 also projects from the end of the base 1, opposite to the end thereof, upon which the end 3 is formed, and from this end 5 the vibrating platform 6 projects. It is obvious that the end 5 may be also soldered or otherwise secured to the ends of the sides 2, as is the case with the end 3, and that the vibrating latform 6 may be bent so as to extend a ove the base 1 of the casing, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The sides 2 are provided with openings 7 formed therethrough, and these openings 7 are in alinement with each other, when the casing is assembled, so as to receive the ends of the hinged bar 8. The vibrating platform 6 has a pair of straps 9 struck therefrom, and bowed inwardly, as shown in Figs. 1 and 1, so as to permit the hinged bar 8 to fit upon the inner surface of the vibrating platform 6, and to be carried by the straps 9, whereby the vibrating platform 6 will be steadied adjacent one end, since the hinged bar 8 is carried by the sides 2. The opposite end of the vibrating platform 6 is free. It is obvious that this platform may be vibrated when the device is in operation, as will be hereinafter set forth.

The stationary frame of the motor, comprising a pair of side members 10, have feet 11 formed thereon, through which securing elements 12 may be passed, for fixedly mounting th side members 10 of the motor frame in fixed positions upon the base 1. The shaft 13 is carried by the side members 10, and the coil spring casing 14: is mounted upon this shaft 13. This coil spring casing 14 is adapted to carry the usual coil spring, and is provided with the teeth 15 extending therefrom, which are engaged by the pawl 16, thus, it will be seen that the coil sprins casing 14: will be permitted to move in one direction, but will be held against obvious that as the key element is turned, A

w it will cause the stem 17 to rotate the coil spring housing 14, thus, winding the spring carried within this housing in the usual manner employed in winding the springs of ordinary spring motors. The spring 20 car ricd within the housing 14 is connected to th housing in any suitable manner, and is also keyedto the shaft 13. Therefore, it is obvious that this coil spring 20 will have the tendency of rotating the shaft 13, in any d1- rection'. The ear 21 is keyed upon the shaft 13, and there ore, as the shaft 13 is rotated, it is obvious that the gear will be rotated, although of course it is also obvious that if so desired the gear 21may be keyed directly to the spring. The standard 22 has its lower end journal'ed in the base 1, as shown at 23, and projects through the enlarged opening 25', formed in the vibrating platform 6. The gear 26 is held by a collar 27 from engage-- ment with the base 1, and is keyed upon the standard 22 in any suitable manner. This gear 26 meshes with the gear 21, and therefore, when rotary motion is imparted to the gear 211, it will also be imparted to the gear 26, thereby rotating the standard 22.

An auxiliary shaft 28 is carried by the side members 10 of the stationary frame and has a pinion 29 keyed thereon, which meshes with the gear 21. A ratchet wheel 30 is also keyed upon the shaft 28 and thereby, when rotary motion is imparted by the gear 21 and pinion 29, to the shaft 28, rotary motion will be imparted to the ratchet wheel 30. The shaft 31 has a pivoted dog 32 mounted thereon, and from the pivot dog 32 there projects a short stem 33 having a weight 34 mounted thereon. T he arm 35 also extends from the pivoted dog and has a head 36 formed at its free end. The pivoted dog 32 engages the ratchet wheel 30 and as a consequence, as the ratchet wheel is rotated, the pivot dog 32 will be oscillated, so as to swing the arm 35 in a vertical plane. Since the vibrating platform 6 extends directly abov the head 36 of the arm 35, it is obvious that as the head 36 strikes the vibrating platform 6, the platform will be caused to vibrate as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

A bell 37 is secured by a bolt 38 and a nut 39 to the supporting block 30 carried by the base 1 of the, casing. This, bell is in the direct line of movement of the head 36 and the arm 35, and as a consequence thehead 36 will strike the bell. 37 when the toy is in operation. It is obvious that. any form of a bell or other suitable musical instrument may be placed within the casing to be operate'deither by th arm 35"or any of the gears of the motor without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

A rotary frame which is carried upon the standard 22 adjacent its upper end as shown in Fig. 1, comprises a pair of sections 41 and Since the sections 41 and 12 of the rotary frame are formed of resilient material, it is obvious that the movement of the ears 4:3 and 44 will be reduced, swinging the dancing toys, thus causing a binding action upon the shaft 32, for holding the sections a1 and 42 against accidental movement. These sections t'l and 42 have fingers 45 extending at right angles to the sections, and in the opposite direction with respect to each other, so to fit between the parallel tacks l6 carried. by the dolls 47. As clearly shown in Fig. 1 th hinged joint structure is indicated at 48, although of course it is obvious that any form of a hinge structure may be employed without departing. from the spirit of the present invention.

Then this device is in operation the fingers 1 5 are slipped between the tacks 46 on the dolls 47, so as to cause the dolls to be carried by the rotary frame above the vibrating platform 6. It is of course obvious that any number, of sections may be employed, while different numbers of dolls may be used, and it will be further seen by. referring particularly to Fig. 2, that the arms 4L9 of the dolls may be secured together to cause the dolls to dance as couples. The spring 20 may be wound as hereinbefore specified, so as to impart rotary motion to the gear 21. 5

This gear will in turn cause the gear 26 to rotatefor turning the standard thereby causing the rotary frame to move the dolls about in a circle on the vibrating platform. At the same time this action is taking place,

the gear 21 will cause the pinion 29' to rotate the shaft28, and this will cause the ratchet wheel 30 to oscillate the pivoted dog 32. This action of the dog 32 will cause the arm 35 to move the head 36 to engagement with the vibrating platform 6 and the bell 37 thereby causing the platform 6 to vibrate, for causing the dolls to jig, while the bell 37 will also be rung. In this way complete dancing action of the dolls will be caused.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that a very simple and efficient structure has been produced wherein the casing will be held against accidental displace ment, and will at the same time containthe motor and produce a vibrating platform for causing lively action by the dolls when the device is in operation. Furthermore it is obvious that different forms of a musical instrument may be employed in connection with the motor which also is used in vibrating the platform, and thereforeit is not desired to limit the construction of this toy to the specific form as shown herein, but to include all such forms of the invention as come within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. In a toy of the class described, the combination of a standard, means for rotating said standard, a frame carried by said standard, said frame comprising a pair of sections, one section projecting through the remaining section, ears formed upon said sections, said standard passing through said ears, where-by said frame will be held in a set position upon said standard, fingers formed upon the ends of said sections, dolls having spaced tacks, said fingers projecting between said tacks for releasably supporting said dolls upon said frame, whereby as said frame is rotated said dolls will be caused to move in a circle.

2. In a toy of the class described, the combination of a casing, a motor carried Within said casing, a vibrating platform carried by said casing, a standard carried by said casing and projecting through said platform, a rotary frame mounted upon said standard, dolls releasably supported by said rotary frame upon said standard, means connected to said motor for rotating said standard, and means carried within said casing for producing a musical sound and means cooperating with said motor for operating said last mentioned means, and at the same time vibrating said platform.

3. In a toy of the class described, the combination of a casing, said casing being formed from a. blank, and comprising a base, sides projecting from said base in parallel relation, ends projecting from said base in parallel relation, said ends and sides being secured together, a vibrating plat-form formed upon one side of said ends, said platform having inwardly extending straps formed thereon, a hinged bar fitting upon the inner surfaces of said platform and pass ing over said straps, said hinged bar engaging the sides of said casing, whereby said platform will be steadied adjacent one end thereof, a shaft carried by said casing, a

frame carried upon said shaft, dolls carried by said frame, and means carried within said casing for rotating said shaft, and vibrating said platform.

4. In a toy of the class described, the combination of a casing, said casing being formed from a blank, and comprising a base, sides projecting from said base in parallel relation ends projecting from said base in parallel'relation, said ends and sides being secured together, a vibrating platform formed upon one side of said ends, said platform having inwardly extending straps formed thereon, a hinged bar fitting upon the inner surfaces of said platform and passing over said straps, said hinged bar engaging the sides of said casing, whereby said platform will be steadied adjacent one end thereof, a shaft carried by said casing, a frame carried upon said shaft, dolls carried by said frame, a motor carried within said casing, a musical instrument carried within said casing, means carried by said casing and cooperating with said motor, for rotating said standard, means carried by said motor for operating said musical instrument and vibrating said platform.

5. In a toy of the class described, the combination of a casing, a vibrating platform mounted upon said casing, a stationary frame carried against said casing, a motor carried by said stationary frame, a bell carried within said casing, a standard extending from said casing, a rotary frame mounted upon said standard, dolls removably carried by said rotary frame, a gear keyed upon said standard, and engaging said motor, whereby when said motor is in operation said standard may be rotated for moving said dolls in a circle, an arm connected to said motor, whereby said arm may be swung in a vertical plane, so as to strike said platform, and said bell for vibrating said platform, and ringing said bell.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

CLARENCE E. HOLT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O. 

